CONSTRUCTOPEDIA

CONSTRUCTOPEDIA 

NXT Kit 9797 

Beta Version 2.0 August 17, 2007 

Center for Engineering Educational Outreach 

Tufts University 

Copyright 2007 LEGOengineering.com & Tufts Center for Engineering Educational Outreach

Table of Contents 

Simple Shapes and Structures ………………………. Page 3 

Ways To Attach NXT Motors ……………………..... Page 6 

Front End Setups …………………………………….. Page 36 

15 Minute Building Projects …………………………. Page 51 

Full Car Models ………………………………...……. Page 62 


Building Instructions: Simple Shapes and Structures 

Simple Shapes and Structures 

Square 

Reversing Trick 

Cube 

Center for Engineering Educational Outreach, Tufts University 



Arch 

Beams 




Triangle 

Alternate Triangle 



Building Instructions: Ways to Attach NXT Motors 

Simple Side Attachment 

Model Description: 

This is a motor attachment option in which the motors attach closely to the sides of the 

NXT. 




These are the parts that you will need: 




Step# 1 

Attach the two bent beams to the NXT using friction pins. The shorter portion of the 

beam should be sticking out from the NXT. Insert a double pin connector into this 

portion. 

Step# 2 

Fasten the motors to the double pin connectors on the bent beams. Then fit a four pin axel 

joiner into the outside mounting beam on the NXT. 




Step# 3 

Attach the double bent beam to the four pin axel joiner and the NXT using the axel pins 

and friction pins. 




Underside Motor Attachment 


This is a simple, stable way to attach two motors under the NXT. 








Step# 1 

Connect two grey axle joiners to the black axle joiner using two 2 stud axles. Connect 

the five hole beam to the gray axle joiners using a long friction pin. Then connect the 

beam to the motor using two more long friction pins. Repeat this process for the second 

motor. 

Step# 2 

Attach each motor assembly to the bottom of the NXT by the black axle joiner, using a 

friction pin. Then secure each motor using the bent beam. 




One Step Motor Attachment 


This is a very simple way, using few pieces, to attach motors. 




Step# 1 (and only) 

The left and right side are symmetrical. 




Angled Back Attachment 


This is a motor attachment option in which the motors angle downward from the NXT. 

(See Step #2 for side visual.) 








Step# 1 

Attach the two bent beams to the NXT using a friction pin and an axle pin on each. The 

shorter portion of the beam should be sticking out from the NXT. 

Step# 2 

Fasten the motors to the bent beams using the extended pins. Make sure the bent beams 

are placed in between the two mounting beams on the NXT. 




Step# 3 

Slide the 12-axle through the mounting beams of the motor and secure it in place with ½ 

bushes. Use the friction pins to attach the 13-beam across the tops of the motors. 




Sturdy Motor Attachment 


This model is a compact, sturdy, way to attach NXT motors. 








Step# 1 

Thread the two 12-axles through the NXT motors, beams, and bent beams. 

Step# 2 

Attach 6 friction pins into the NXT. (3 per side) 




Step# 3 

Combine the parts from steps #1 and #2. Attach the bent beams to the friction pins in the 

NXT and to the axles from step #1. Use a half bush to hold the 3-5 bent beam to the axle. 

Both sides are symmetrical. 




Wide Back Attachment 


This is a motor attachment option in which the motors are mounted far apart in the back 

of the NXT. 








Step# 1 

Attach the two bent beams with friction pins to the back of the NXT so that the shorter 

portion sticks out the back. Then, use the straight beams to attach those to a double pin 

connector inserted in the front of the NXT. 




Step# 2 

Place the double pin connector in the NXT slots and connect one of the double bent 

beams to it. Place two pins in the bent beams from step one and connect the other double 

bent beam to those, leaving one space from the single bent beam uncovered. Lastly, place 

the appropriate pins in the TOP SIDE of the end of the double bent beams. 

Step# 3 

Attach four pin axle joiners to the NXT motors. Then, snap the four pin axle joiners onto 

the pins sticking up out of the double bent beams. 




Step# 4 

Attach the bent beams to the NXT holes with the friction pins. Have the large portion 

sticking out backwards. Insert two 8-axles and two 6-axels into the motors and NXT 

holes. Fasten the motors in place by placing bushes on the axles on both sides of the 

motor bars. 




Compact Motor Attachment 


This is a simple, compact way of attaching motors to the NXT. 








Step# 1 

Replacing the 2 vertical beams with longer beams, and having those hang below the 

horizontal beam might be a good set up for a different build. 

Step# 2 

In the diagram above, the right motor and beam is extended out, to provide an 

intermediary step. 




Step# 3 

Attach the part from step #1 to the part from step #2 so that the beams from the first step 

connect to the back of the motors. 




Vertical Motor Attachment 


This is a motor attachment option in which two motors are held vertically 








Step# 1 

Insert the two axles through the top two holes of the motors and the double axle joiners 

simultaneously. The double axle joiners should be in between the two axle holding bars 

on each motor. Secure the bars with the bushes. 

Step# 2 

Attach the double axle joiners to the underside of the NXT using two axle pins. 




Step# 3 

Use two black pins to attach each of the two bent beams to the tops of the motors. Then 

place a black pin in the corner of each bent beam and an axle pin in the end. 

Step# 4 

Link the bent beams from step three to the NXT using the axle pins and the two linking 

pieces. Push all the pieces completely down on the pins. Then, attach the straight beam to 

the top of the bent beams above the motors using the pins already placed in during step 

three. 



Building Instructions: Front End Setups 

Swiveling Front Attachment 


This is a front wheel attachment option in which one small wheel has the ability to 

swivel. This allows the car to turn easily. 








Step# 1 

Attach one beam to the bottom of the NXT using two pins. Insert the double pin 

connectors into that beam. Then attach two more beams to those pieces using the other 

pins. 

Step# 2 

Insert a 4-axle through the wheel and slide a perpendicular connector piece onto each side 

of it. Make sure the open hole is the part slid on so that the axle rotates. Secure them with 

½ bushes. Stick a 4-axle through the axle part of each of the connector pieces and slide 

another connector piece (using the open hole section) onto each of those, separated by a 

bushing. Secure the ends of these axles with ½ bushes. Finally slide one more 4-axle 

through the two connector pieces and through the shaped end of one more perpendicular 

connector piece, so that it sticks straight backwards. 




Step# 3 

Insert a 6-axle up through the bottom two beams and secure it with a bush in the open 

space. Slide a bush up the bottom of the axle, followed by the wheel setup, and then 

another ½ bush. 




Long Front Setup 


This is a front end setup that can slide or hold another wheel. 








Step# 1 

Connect the two black axle joiners to the 9-beam using the axle pins. Connect the two 

gray axle joiners to the 9-beam as well. Connect the 5-beam to the grey axle joiners 

using the connecting pins. Connect the 3-beams to the grey axle joiners. 

Step# 2 

Connect the bent beams to the axle joiners using the 3-axles. 




Step# 3 

Connect the lift arms from step #2 to step #1, and then connect that to the NXT. 




Sliding Front Attachment 


This is a front wheel attachment option with skids to slide around on. This gives an NXT 

car the ability to turn without the use of a wheel. 








Step# 1 

Attach the hole sections of the perpendicular connector pieces to the NXT using pins. 

Make sure the axle holes face horizontally. Insert a 4-axle into the perpendicular 

connector pieces and fasten it in place with two ½ bushes. 

Step# 2 

Fasten two curved beams to a 7-beam using extended pins. This is the sliding piece. 




Step# 3 

Take one of the ½ bushes off the axle and pull the axle out. Slide it back in, inserting it 

through the setup from step two. Replace the bush on the axle. 




Dual Wheel Setup 


This is a front wheel attachment that has bars to hold various sensors. 








Step# 1 

Attach the 7-axle to the bent lift arm. Attach the axle joiner to the bottom of the axle, and 

place an axle pin inside the axle joiner. Attach a friction pin to the lift arm. Repeat for 

the second lift arm. 

Step# 2 

Attach each axle assembly to the NXT and add wheels to the axle pins. 



Building Instructions: 15 Minute Building Projects 

Swing Set 


This is a swing set that can be programmed to move back and forth. 








Step# 1 

Connect the two lift arms using two connector pins. Place a long pin with friction into 

the top holes of the lift arms. Connect these pins to the grey axle joiners. Insert a 6 stud 

axle into each axle joiner. Place a grey connector on each axle. Connect the black axle 

joiners using the 2 stud axles. 

Step# 2 

Slide the 10 stud axles through the black axle joiners from the previous step, and connect 

them using the axle connector. Create the base by connecting the beams to the second 

and fourteenth hole of the studded beams using a pin and a long pin. Slide the 10 stud 

axles through the ends of the beams. Connect the 7-beam to the right side of the 

assembly in the 8 th hole from the bottom using a long and short pin. Place the 5 stud axle 

in the middle hole of the 7-beam, securing it on either side with the ½ bushings. 




Step# 3 

Place one of the 24 tooth gears on the exposed 10 stud axle at the top of the assembly. 

Connect the other 24 tooth gear using the axle pin to the 4 th hole from the top of the 

beam. Connect one of the 40 tooth gears to the 5 stud axle in the middle of the assembly. 

Connect the other 40 gear using the 3 stud axle to the motor. 




NXT Merry-Go-Round! 


This medium building difficulty merry-go-round can rotate forever!! Wires will never get 

tangled up since the NXT spins with the motors. This model uses LEGO rubber bands to 

help hold one of the motors in place. 





**You will need two LEGO rubber bands (belts). 




Step# 1 (do this step twice) 

Repeat step #1. Do not repeat it in a mirror image, you want two exact copies. Set them 

aside until step #5. 

Step# 2 

Once the wheels are attached, the Merry-Go-Round will have a base. 




Step# 3 

Use the parts from step #2. The base is now complete. The NXT will slide onto the 4 

friction pins sticking out in the above figure. Set aside until step #7. 

Step# 4 

Slide the two 4-axles through the holes of the NXT motor and through the holes of the 

black 3 long perpendicular technic axle joiners. It is hard to see the 4-axles in the diagram 

above. Set aside until step #7. 




Step# 5 

Attach the ponies from step #1 to the motor using a 12-axle. Set aside until step #7. 

Step# 6 




Step #7 

Attach the NXT to the base, and attach the motors to the NXT. 

Step# 8 

Use rubber bands (LEGO belts) to hold the motor in place. 




Step #9 

Your program must run both motors continuously. You will need to adjust the motor 

powers to obtain an appropriate speed. You may also need to adjust the placement of the 

rubber bands to ensure that the gears stay meshed. If you find the gears aren’t staying 

together try rotating the motor the opposite direction so the force pushes it into the NXT 

instead of away. 



Building Instructions: Full Car Models 

NXT Quick-Start Car 


This is a simple, two-motor car that can be built in less than 15 minutes using the NXT 

kit. Additionally, all types of sensors can easily be added to this model. 








Step# 1 

Attach 2 motors to the NXT using long friction pins and double friction pins. 

Step# 2 

Attach 2 bent beams to the front of the car using the two pins. These beams will hold the 

front wheels. 




Step# 3 

Attach 2 large NXT wheels to the motors using two 6-axels. Use the axel pins to secure 

the small wheels to the bent beams. Leave the front wheels bare to allow them to slide 

easily when the car is programmed to turn. 

Step# 4 (Optional Sensor Additions) 

Attach the touch, proximity, or sounds sensor to the top of one of the motors using the 

long friction pin. Attach the light sensor to one of the bent beams using the normal 

friction pins. The light sensor should be facing the ground.

CONSTRUCTOPEDIA

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